Paper cup cover



Oct. 25, 1960 E. .1. KRAJCOVIC PAPER CUP COVER Filed 001:. 3, 1958 m M.m m .mw a a m J ,m d W Va w W E I 1 a m F Po m m 1. w/ iv 4 .m. F

tr... Q4 c. nth.

2,957,614 PAPER CUP COVER Edward J. Krajcovic, 34-30 78th St., JacksonHeights 72, N.Y.

Filed Oct. '3, 1958, Ser. No. 765,250

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-'7) This invention relates to a cover for areceptacle and more particularly to a cover for an ordinary paper cup.

An object of the invention is to provide a cover for a receptacle makingit unnecessary to remove the cover for drinking from the receptacle.There are numerous times when it is impractical or undesirable to removethe cover from a paper cup in order to drink from the cup. For instanceon the beach in the presence of sand, while travelling especially by busand automobile, while attending a ball game, etc. Accordingly, thisinvention solves the problem by providing means of a practical naturefor withdrawing liquid from the cup through a drinking straw withoutremoving the cover. The contents of the cup may be fully and completelyconsumed at one time or the cover of this invention may be adjusted tothe drinking and non-drinking positions any number of times.

Further, the size of the assembly on the cup cover will always be thesame regardless of the cup and/ or cover size.

The opening and closing of the straw may be accomplished with only onefinger (usually the index finger) and the cup held in the same hand, sothat the users other hand is always free.

If for any reason it is desired to remove the cover it may be separatedfrom the cup by pulling on the straw.

n the highways, this kind of cup may be served at drive-in standsdirectly to the occupants of an automobile or other motor vehicle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a receptacle having a cover constructed inaccordance with the invention thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2. but showing the coverfor the receptacle in the receptacle contents consuming position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the straw holder and lifter thatconstitutes a part of the invention.

Figure '6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lower end of thestraw.

In the accompanying drawings a fragment of receptacle is shown. This isa conventional paper cup in all respects, having a rolled upper edge 12and a circumferential groove 14 near the rolled edge and adapted toaccept a conventional paper cover for the cup. The improved cover 16 ismade of a circular panel 18 adapted to fit in the groove 14 and be heldin place just as any ordinary conventional cover. However, panel 18 hasa drinking straw 20 attached to it. The drinking straw Patent 02,957,614 Ice Page we 9 .9

2 may be made of plastic or paper material or an other suitable materialwhich is flexible so that it may the positions of Figure 2 and Figure 3respectively; The lower end of the drinking straw has means forfastening it to the panel 18. means may be varied; e'ne suggestion beingto use a disk secured to the straw and secured to the panel 18.' Anothersuggestion is as use a plurality of flaps or arms 22 adhered to the new20 and fitting flush against the bottom surface of 'panel 18. Arms 22may be separate parts attached to' str'aw'20fir may be integral with thestraw (Figures 2 and 3): Regardless of the type of censtruetion, it ispreferred that the arms 22' be cemented or' otherwise adhered to theinside surface of panel 18 and held in place by lower and upper rings 24and 26 cemented to thepaiiel' 18 around aperture 28 thereof throughwhich the straw '20 extends.

Straw 20 is held in a depressed condition providing a bend 30 in itwhich closes the saw. The fer holding the straw in such position that ithas bend 30, are seen in Figures 1-5. These means include a small panel34 having a generally annular area 36 on which there is a pressuresensitive cement. The central region 38 of panel 34 is left uncemented,and there is an entrance 40 also uncemented. Tab 42' extends from themain body of the panel 34 and is looped (Figure 4) so that it fits underthe straw. The extremity of the straw is slipped beneath the panel 34and explicitly, the part of the panel that does not have a film ofcement thereon. This part constitutes a pocket 46 within which theextremity of the straw is held.

The panel 34 is made of a plastic that has some elasticity andresilience or made of a paper possessing similar characteristics. Thereason is that when the straw 20 is withdrawn from pocket 46, the tab 42pops or lifts the straw up so that it is more easily returned to itsnormal, erect position (Figure 3) for drinking. When returning the strawto the position shown in Figure 2, at which the carton is closed, thetab is looped again (Figure 4) and the straw slipped into the pocket 46.Accordingly, the cup may be used and reused any number of times untilthe contents have been exhausted. During the non-use interval, thecontainer may be sealed by tucking the end of the straw in pocket 46.

Various modifications of the invention may be made. For instance, thetab 42 may be completely omitted with of course, the loss of theflipping or popping function thereon exerted on straw 20. However, thestraw 20 may be made of plastic material, such as polyethylene, whichhas a certain amount of inherent resiliency so that when its extremityis removed from the pocket 46, the straw will return generally to anupright position. If more elasticity is desired, a different selectionof plastic material may be made, such as a number of the polystyreneswhich are rubber-like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cover for a receptacle comprising a panel adapted to fiit thereceptacle and be held secure thereto, a drinking straw connected tosaid panel in an opening in the panel to register with the interior ofthe receptacle, means connected to said panel for retaining said strawwith a bend therein thereby sealing the contents of the receptacle inthe latter, said drinking straw being separably connected to said meansso that said straw may be moved to a position at which the bend in thestraw is removed to thereby establish a drinking position for the straw,said means including a relatively small panel attached to said firstmentioned panel and having a pocket therein within which the outerextremity of the straw is adapted to be inserted, a tab connected tosaid small panel and looped under said straw, said tab having resilienceand elasticity so that when the extremity of said straw is separatedfrom said pocket, said looped tab pushes said straw in a direction toremove the bend from said straw.

2. A receptacle cover comprising a panel provided with an aperture, adrinking straw having one end thereof secured in said aperture and afree other end, said straw being bendable from a substantially straightdrinking position to a laterally bent sealing position wherein said freeend thereof lies against said panel, and means for releasably retainingsaid straw in the sealing position, said means comprising asubstantially disc-shaped plate secured along a major portion of itsmarginal edge to said panel at a point spaced from said aperture anddefining a pocket under itself, a minor portion of the marginal edge ofsaid plate being detached from said panel and providing an entrance forsaid pocket oriented in the direction of said aperture, the free endportion of said straw being removably received in said pocket throughsaid entrance when the straw is in the sealing position, means providedon said panel adjacent the entrance of said pocket and engageable withsaid straw for urging the latter toward its drinking position uponremoval of the free end of the straw from the pocket.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned meanscomprise a resilient tab engageable with said straw.

4. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned meanscomprise a resilient tab formed integrally with said plate andoperatively engageable with said straw.

Miller Nov. 11, 1952 Kuss Aug. 3, 1954

